Estimation of Mercury in Soil, Water and Plants Spectrophotometrically

Trace levels of mercury in soil, environmental water (portable and polluted) and plant specimens (cucumber and pepper) at Koya area – Kurdistan region – Iraq was described by simple procedure, where, no further solvent purification or pre-concentration required steps. The method based on soxhelt extraction with oxalic acid and stannous chloride in acidic media for about 2.5 h, followed by spectrophotometric measurement at λmax of 300 nm. The results show different mercury levels, water samples show (3-215) ppm, while soil samples (5 -150) ppm. Also, some agricultural products show (23 -80) ppm mercury level.